The Netflix series Bloodhounds has taken audiences by storm. Drawn in by the action, many have stayed for the tight brotherly bond between Kim Gun-woo (Woo Do-hwan) and Hong Woo-jin (Lee Sang-yi), whose relationship never wavers. Instead, it’s held fast, creating one of the strongest male friendships seen in recent years. All this continues in Bloodhounds Season 2, but this time, Woo-jin has taken more of a backseat.
In Bloodhounds Season 2, Woo-jin has turned to coaching Gun-woo after the events of Bloodhounds 1, after his injuries have nixed any professional boxing career he could have had. When Gun-woo’s talent draws the attention of the psychotic Baek-jeong (Jung Ji-hoon aka Rain), Woo-jin does what he can to make sure Gun-woo isn’t drawn into his web. Over the course of Bloodhounds Season 2, Woo-jin grapples with his growing feelings of inadequacy, only to have his moment of triumph by season’s end.
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Read our review for Bloodhounds Season 2
After steadily building up his acting resume, mostly with secondary male lead roles, Bloodhounds marks a turning point for Lee Sang-yi’s career. The role showcases him at his most physical, highlighting his dedication to his craft as he transforms his physique and delivers high-octane action sequences with surprising finesse. For many who’ve been following his career, it showed his range and versatility beyond his trademark charm.
Starting in theater, Lee Sang-yi made his television debut in 2017 with the drama Manhole, winning many hearts ever since. He has always handled his characters with care, more often than not stealing the spotlight away from his colleagues with his near-effortless charisma, emotional earnestness, and penchant for humor. If you’re ever in need of a spot of joy, you can never go wrong by watching something he is in.
If you watched Bloodhounds Season 2 and want more of actor Lee Sang-yi, here’s what to watch next after the credits roll on Episode 7.
Youth of May (2021)
TV Series
Also Stars: Lee Do-hyun, Go Min-si, Keum Sae-rok
Directed By: Song Min-yeop
Written By: Lee Kang
Episodes: 12
Youth of May is arguably the first show Lee Sang-yi took on in the 2020s that highlights his range beyond the standard second male lead/love interest type he was relegated to in later roles. Set during a particularly turbulent era in recent Korean history, Lee Sang-yi portrayed Lee Soo-chan, the eldest brother of Keum Sae-rok’s Lee Soo-ryeon. He perfectly embodies the big-brother energy needed for the role, but most importantly, the level of protectiveness and dedication the family needs.
This culminates in some incredibly emotional moments in Youth of May, a series that commits itself to breaking our hearts. And as becomes a consistent theme throughout his career, Lee Sang-yi commands the screen with his scene-stealing performance.
Official Synopsis: Hee-tae becomes the pride of Gwangju when he enters Seoul National University College of Medicine with top marks. His best friend Kyung-soo, an avid pro-democracy activist, insists they open an illegal clinic for students on the run from the government. One day, a factory worker is injured during a protest. In exchange for the costs of discreetly transporting himself and the factory worker to his hometown, Hee Tae must go to a meeting with a potential marriage partner arranged by his father.
At this meeting, Hee-tae meets Myeong-hee, a nurse persevering through the hardships of life. She only agrees to attend this meeting in place of her friend Soo-ryeon because she needs to come up with the airfare to study in Germany. However, Myeong-hee and Hee-tae end up falling in love. In May of 1980, amidst the heated passion and cries for democracy that reverberate throughout Gwangju, Hee-tae and Myeong-hee find themselves in a twist of fate.
Watch now on Kocowa+, Prime Video, and Viki (in select regions).
Hometown Cha Cha Cha (2021)
TV Series
Also Stars: Shin Min-a, Kim Sun-ho
Directed By: Yoo Je-won
Written By: Shin Ha-eun
Episodes: 16
Introduced in Episode 4 of Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, Lee Sang-yi’s Ji Seong-hyeon is a refreshing breath of fresh air when it comes to love rivals. As the third wheel to the burgeoning romance between Yoon Hye-jin (Shin Min-a) and Hong Du-sik (Kim Sun-ho), you’d expect him to be aggressive or pull Hye-jin in one direction (a common characteristic of second male leads in these instances). Instead, Seong-hyeon handles his unrequited feelings with maturity, revealing a healthier side of the love triangle dynamic we don’t often see.
That’s not to say there isn’t a rivalry that develops. And it’s fun when it does. Lee Sang-yi leans into the silliness as well as the awkwardness of being the third wheel, providing a great contrast with Kim Sun-ho’s smugness when he comes out triumphant. It intensifies the dynamics but paves the way for well-earned resolutions by series’ end.
Official Synopsis: Yoon Hye-jin works as a dentist. She is mostly a realist, but due to her righteousness, which is only a tiny part of her mind, her life changes. She ends up moving to the seaside village of Gongjin. There, Yoon Hye-jin meets Hong Du-sik. She becomes curious about him. Hong Du-sik is known as Chief Hong among the local residents. He is a handsome and smart man. Officially, he is unemployed, but he always seems busy. If someone needs help, Hong Du-sik is the first to appear and offer assistance. (Source: AsianWiki)
My Demon (2023)
TV Series
Also Stars: Kim You-jung, Song Kang
Directed By: Kim Jang-han, Kwon Da-som
Written By: Choi A-il
Episodes: 16
My Demon features Lee Sang-yi at the peak second male love interest level as Joo Seok-hoon. While Song Kang’s Gu-won commands focus as the love interest to Kim Yoo-jung’s CEO Do Do-hee, Lee Sang-yi’s Seok-hoon is a much-needed grounding force to keep this supernaturally heavy affair from floating away. While Gu-won is pretty toxic and grandiose at the beginning, Seok-hoon strikes a healthier balance, making him a more effective partner to complement Do-hee.
Yet, the powers that rule fate have other plans. Despite this, because of Lee Sang-yi’s sheer likability as Seok-hoon, you can’t help but wish Do-hee saw something more in him. That’s just how good he is.
Official Synopsis: Do Do-Hee is the successor of the Future Group. She has an arrogant and cool-headed personality and doesn’t trust anyone. She is cynical about love. Do-Hee gets involved with a demon named Jeong Gu-Won and makes a contract marriage with him. She faces big changes in her life.
Jeong Gu-Won is a demon. He can live for eternity by making dangerous, but sweet deals with humans who endure hellish lives. He looks down upon humans and has prowled this world like an apex predator for 200 years. He gets involved with Do Do-Hee and suddenly loses his power. He then enters into a contract marriage with her. To prevent his own extinction, he must protect Do Do-Hee, who has taken all of his power. Their relationship develops romantically. (Source: AsianWiki)
No Gain No Love (and Spice Up Our Love) (2024)
TV Series
Also Stars: Shin Min-a, Kim Young-dae, Han Ji-hyun
Directed By: Kim Jung-sik
Written By: Kim Hye-young
Episodes: 12
No Gain No Love was a surprising outing for Lee Sang-yi. Not because of his skill, but because of how much attention his secondary male-lead storyline stole from the main one. His natural charm and chemistry with Han Ji-hyun’s Nam Ja-yeon was mesmerizing, and it wasn’t long before the couple’s storyline became the one to root for over the main one. They became so popular that a spin-off series, Spice Up Our Love, was ordered, putting Lee Sang-yi front and center as the main love interest for two special episodes.
Secondary romances being more popular than the main one isn’t an entirely uncommon issue in K-dramas. But never has one been so popular that they got a special episode order halfway through to further center the romance. And honestly, Lee Sang-yi has more than proved that he can command the main male love interest spotlight. Producers, get on this!
Official Synopsis: Son Hae-young is the type of person who doesn’t want to lose money under any circumstances. When growing up, she had to share her mother’s love with others. She often found her partners in relationships below her break-even point. Now, Son Hae-Young faces the possibility of missing out on a job promotion at her workplace. To avoid such a loss, she plans a fake wedding.
She recruits Kim Ji-wook to be her fiancé. Kim Ji-wook works part-time as a cashier at a convenience store. He is the type of person who can’t ignore people in need and tries to do the right thing. He is smooth with every customer at the convenience store, except for one person. That person is Son Hae-young. When she suddenly asks him to become the fake groom at her wedding, he somehow accepts her offer. (Source: AsianWiki)
Love in the Big City (2024)
Movie
Also Stars: Kim Go-eun, Noh Sang-hyun, Jang Hye-jin, Oh Dong-min, Kim Chae-eun,
Directed By: E.oni
Written By: Kim Na-deul
Playing the part of Min-jun, Lee Sang-yi makes great use of his limited screentime in Love in the Big City to establish why it is that Jae-hee is willing to settle down once and for all. He exudes confidence and care, quickly becoming a safe person for Jae-hee. With Min-jun, Jae-hee doesn’t have to make herself smaller like she did with Ji-seok. Instead, she can be herself. Love in the Big City is a reminder that Lee Sang-yi has all the qualities to make a sweet male love interest that we’d love to see more of.
Official Synopsis: Jae-hee is a free-spirited young woman who lives life on her own terms and wants to fall in love. However, this often makes her the subject of gossip and rumors among her university classmates. Heung-soo, on the other hand, insists on keeping his true self locked away, not wanting anyone else to find out that he’s attracted to men.
When Jae Hee happens to find out Heung-soo’s secret, he braces himself for the worst – but instead finds a friend in Jae Hee. As the two grow closer, they learn important lessons about life and love, including the value of loving yourself. This movie was adapted from the novel of the same name by Park Sang-young.
Good Boy (2025)
TV Series
Also Stars: Park Bo-gum, Kim So-hyun, Oh Jung-se, Heo Sung-tae, Tae Won-seok
Directed By: Sim Na-yeon
Written By: Lee Dae-il
Episodes: 16
Lee Sang-yi carries over some of the action energy into the procedural comedy drama, Good Boy. Portraying the former silver medal fencer turned special investigation team detective, Kim Jong-hyeon, is put through the wringer with this physically intensive role that capitalizes on the character’s sports background. As with many of his previous roles, Lee Sang-yi brings heartfelt complexity to this second male lead, and, most importantly, he really knows how to bring out that team energy in this ensemble.
For a show that really relies on the strength of its ensemble cast to make things work, the camaraderie Sang-yi naturally inspires among his castmates comes through.
Official Synopsis: After 11 years, the police revive their special recruitment for former national athletes. Once hailed as heroes, these world-class medalists now face harsh realities. Despite financial struggles, unexpected tragedies, and discrimination within the force, the athletes, each with their own story, reunite as a special task force to take on major crimes with the grit and skills they honed as athletes.
The Village Barber (2026)
Reality TV
Also Stars: Park Bo-gum and Kwak Dong-yeon
Episodes: 7 Episodes currently available (with 10 expected).
Lee Sang-yi reunites with Park Bo-gum, one of his best friends and co-star on Good Boy, along with his other friend, Kwak Dong-yeon, in arguably one of the most wholesome slowburn reality TV series playing now. What’s really cool is that Lee Sang-yi got his nail technician license specifically to help out Bo-gum expand his services at his barbershop, Bogum Magical.
When you see how nervous he is to work on his first customer, you feel for him. Really, all three guys take what they are doing seriously. You can also see how naturally charming and funny Lee Sang-yi is without a character to hide behind, which makes him all the more fun to watch with his friends.
Official Synopsis: In The Village Barber, actor Park Bo Gum runs a barbershop in a remote rural village together with his close friends Lee Sang-yi and Kwak Dong-yeon. The three actors have made quite a name for themselves, starring in some of the highest-watched and impactful K-dramas, especially those simulcast and released on Netflix, showcasing their international appeal.
From historical fiction to contemporary small-town romance to portraying a lead male character in a web novel, for fans of Lee Sang-yi, there is plenty to hold you over after you’re finished with Bloodhounds Season 2.
Did we miss one of your favorite Lee Sang-yi shows? Let us know on social media @butwhytho.net on Bluesky.
